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Bloom Day challenge

The challenge in May is one of editing. You know what I mean: the garden is bursting with bloom. I’ll try to show you new things or especially photogenic things, so as not to bore you with a post that goes on and on…and on.

The last of my tulips to bloom is the dramatic ‘Orange Favorite’. When Linda came to the bloggers’ plant swap at my place last fall, she brought me two heirloom tulip bulbs. No way could I have anticipated how much pleasure would be derived from a pair of homely orbs. Thanks again, Linda.

A woodland ground cover planted for its foliage, Cornus canadensis is filling in and blooming (sparsely) for the first time. I like the way the pristine white flowers echo the shape of the leaves.

The subtle coloration of a columbine that came to me as a gift almost looks like it was airbrushed on, shading from pale yellow to light orange. I was weeding out the buttercups that keep trying to invade the woodland (I thought they were sun-lovers), only to discover that they were propping up this plant.

So I left a few around nearby Aguilegia ‘Swallowtail’. The long spurs on this columbine make it special. It was introduced by High Country Gardens, and is the one success story of my mail order dealings with them.

I don’t think I have ever noticed the flowers on Cranesbill ‘Philippe Vapelle’. They are dainty, charming and echo the color of surrounding sedums. Too bad for them they are upstaged by the shape and texture of their foliage.

White, scented bells peek through the lush foliage of Convallaria majalis. By next year I should have enough blooming stems to bring inside to perfume the air…and keep the ratio of blooms to leaves about where you see it here.

Happy to be liberated from life in a pot, Enkianthus campanulatus var sikokeanus didn’t even suffer from transplant shock. Guess it feels the love.

Queen for a Day (well, more like a week, but still a brief but glorious run) the tree peony ‘Chinese Dragon’ bears repeating. I lengthen her reign by cutting tight buds to force indoors, and keep cutting single blooms to enjoy as long as possible.

Those are the stars of this SRO show. But wait! There’s more! Just click HERE to see where Carol, our gracious host, will lead you.

My Enkianthus is flowering now too, after a year in a pot in my pot ghetto. That tulip at the top of your post is something else. I can’t seem to get Cornus canadensis to thrive in my garden. Maybe I just haven’t found quite the right spot yet.

Lets hope our Tulips return next spring , I ‘ve had too many no shows this year. I’ve just planted c. canadensis , I’m keeping a close watch on it. Planted on a shady dry slope , may have a rough time this dry summer.Happy Bloom day !

Everything you chose is so beautiful, although I am especially in awe of that tulip. I had my very first encounter with the Pacific Northwest last week, and I have to say, I’m jealous! All that rain and not too hot – plants that look so-so here look fabulous where you are.

A very nice edit of flowers this month. The Enkianthus looks really exotic to me, nothing like the dryland plants that make up most of my garden. And the tulip–wow. Another rush of plant envy welling up…